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Hey everybody, welcome back to 
the Elon Musk Podcast. 

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This is a show where we discuss 
the critical crossroads that 

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shape SpaceX, Tesla X, The 
Boring Company, and Neuralink. 

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And I'm your host, Will Walden, 
the US Space Force's 7th mission

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of the X37B Orbital Test 
Vehicle, or the OTV launch last 

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week on a Falcon Heavy rocket, 
and it's shrouded in mystery. 

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This is a Boeing built 
spacecraft. 

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Its purpose, its payload and its
destination remain largely 

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undisclosed. 
But Michelle Parker, who is 

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Boeing's Vice President of Space
missions, said that the 

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technological advancements we're
driving on X37B will benefit the

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broader space community, 
especially as we see increased 

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interest in space sustainability
and we're pushing for innovation

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and capability that will 
influence the next generation of

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spacecraft. 
Now this is known as the US SF52

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or the OTV 7, and the mission 
departed from Kennedy Space 

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Center Launch Complex 39 A in 
Florida. 

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Now the launch, which initially 
delayed due to weather and 

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technical issues, was assisted 
by SpaceX and the live stream of

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the launch was terminated upon 
the space plane reaching orbit 

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as requested by the Space Force.
Frank Kendall, the Secretary of 

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the US Air Force, said that the 
progress of space travel, citing

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teamwork across various agencies
and industries, is ramping up. 

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And for the first time, the X37B
launched aboard a Falcon Heavy 

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rocket, one of the most powerful
launch vehicles available. 

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This marked a departure from 
previous missions, which 

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utilized the United Launch 
Alliance's Atlas 5 rockets in 

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Spacex's Falcon 9 booster. 
The Falcon Heavy's capabilities 

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have fueled speculation about 
the potential altitude and 

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objectives of the Super secret 
mission of the X37B project is a

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collaboration involving the 
Space Force, the US Space 

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Force's Rapid Capabilities 
Office and Boeing. 

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It operates under the National 
Security Space Launch Program 

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and the spacecraft's exact role 
remains a topic of speculation 

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ranging from reconnaissance to 
payload delivery, with a 

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Pentagon denying any weapons 
related functions. 

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Now, the Space Force has stated 
that USSF 52 will test 

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operations in new orbital 
regimes and examined radiation 

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effects on various payloads, 
including NASA provided seeds. 

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William Bailey, who's the 
Director of Rapid Capabilities 

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Office, said that the space 
plane's role is enhancing 

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responsibility, flexibility, and
adaptive experimentation 

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platforms for space operations 
in the future. 

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Additionally, the X37B will 
experiment with technologies for

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future space domain awareness. 
This aims to ensure safe and 

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secure space operations for both
government and commercial 

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entities, and despite the 
secrecy, certain aspects of the 

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X37's design and capabilities 
have been disclosed. 

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The X37B, initially a NASA 
project, was developed by 

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Boeing's Phantom Works, designed
for operations in low Earth 

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orbit, and it's notable for 
being the first vehicle since 

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the Space Shuttle capable of 
returning experiments to Earth. 

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It's a space plane, and it 
introduces several technological

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innovations, including advanced 
avionics and electromechanical 

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actuation systems. 
Now, despite its new features, 

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the X37B shares some 
similarities with the Space 

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Shuttle though, including its 
high profile landing and lifting

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body architecture. 
However, it is significantly 

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smaller and more elusive, 
capable of changing orbit and 

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concealing its position. 
Now, since its first mission in 

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2010, the X37B has completed 
over 37150 days in space, 

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covering 1.3 billion miles. 
Its achievements were recognized

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in 2019 with the Robert J 
Collier Trophy for significant 

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American aeronautical and 
astronomical achievements. 

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Now the X37BS increasing mission
durations and capabilities have 

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coincided with a similar 
development by China. 

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Their Shen Long Divine Dragon 
space plane project launched 

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aboard a Long March 2F rocket 
and has been the subject of 

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international interest in 
speculation, and Boeing's X37B 

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was initially designed for a 270
day mission. 

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However, since OTV 2 in 2011, 
each mission has exceeded its 

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predecessor in duration, with 
the 6th mission lasting a record

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908 days, and OTV 7 is 
anticipated to surpass this 

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duration and includes expanded 
capabilities for hosting more 

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experiments. 
The chief of Space operations 

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for the Space Force suggested 
that OTV 7 could be the X37BS 

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final mission, though this comes
amid increasing activity in 

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space endeavors by China, 
highlighted by their recent 

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Shenlong mission and deployment 
of objects into orbit from the 

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Shenlong mission. 
Now, the close timing of the 

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launches of the X37B and 
Shenlong has not gone unnoticed.

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Though U.S. officials, including
Stalzman, have acknowledged 

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mutual interest and surveillance
between the two nations 

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regarding their respective space
plane projects, the X37BS 

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development and deployment show 
that it's an important phase in 

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space exploration and 
technological advancement. 

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Right now, it's super secretive.
Nature and advanced capabilities

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show a significant leap in EU s 
s efforts to maintain a 

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strategic edge in space, and the
speculation surrounding the S30 

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7BS purpose and capabilities 
reflects the ongoing intrigue 

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and competition and space 
exploration and utilization. 

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And as nations continue to 
develop and deploy advanced 

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space tech, the X37B remains a 
key player in this area. 

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Now the X37BS latest mission 
continues to foster discussions 

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and theories about its 
objectives and its impact. 

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With each mission pushing the 
boundaries of space tech, the 

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X37B remains an important 
component of the evolving 

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narrative of space exploration 
and security. 

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Now the impact of future space 
missions though in terms of 

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technology and strategy, we're 
not exactly sure what that's 

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going to be. 
And as it embarks on its latest 

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journey, the X37BS secretive 
nature coupled with its advanced

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capabilities continues to 
captivate everybody. 

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So if we have any more 
information about the X37B, 

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we'll let you know as soon as 
possible. 

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Hey, thank you so much for 
listening today. 

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